Welcome to the latest edition of The
Advocate.
The last few months have been incredibly busy for Landcare NSW. Following the successful Landcare Muster and NSW
Landcare & Local Land Services
Conference in Orange, was the roll out of the NSW Landcare Support Program.
Applications were invited for Landcare and other community organisations to host Local Landcare Co-ordinator positions across NSW. Approximately 60 part-time positions are to work with their local communities to build and strengthen community networks.
Leading and supporting the Landcare
Support Program are the pivotal positions of State Landcare Co-ordinator, employed by Landcare NSW, and
Landcare Program Manager, employed by
Local Land Services. Sonia Williams has been appointed as State Landcare Coordinator and Kate Andrews as the
Landcare Program Manager. Both these ladies have strong backgrounds in
Landcare and natural resource management.
Rob Dulhunty
Chair, Landcare NSW Inc.
Landcare NSW was successful in receiving a Lead Environment
Community Group grant from the NSW
Environmental Trust, to support
Landcare groups through a series of regional workshops held in May and
June 2016.
The theme of these workshops is
Biodiversity. A steering committee is designing the series to provide a forum where farmers, Landcare groups, environmentalists, agencies, universities, local government and community members can participate to share, learn & connect on biodiversity.
The workshops, sponsored by Landcare
NSW and hosted by regional Landcare networks, will showcase biodiversity projects undertaken by local groups, present biodiversity initiatives from agencies & government programs, update on latest research as well as learn about the new draft Biodiversity
Legislation. Above all the workshops will be an opportunity to contribute to a regional picture of biodiversity activities, needs and concerns, through sharing, learning and connecting.
The program is still in the design phase and we look forward to working with groups in co-delivering this exciting opportunity. We will keep you updated through LNSW e-bulletin. Contact swilliams@landcarensw.org.au for more info.
Local communities around Australia are getting ready to plant around 1.3 million trees as part of the Australian
Government's 20 Million Trees
Programme, with many projects targeting habitat protection for native plants and animals under threat.
Under this latest round, the Australian
Government's 20 Million Trees programme will provide over $5 million in funding to help roll out 64 local projects across Australia.
This is the first time that local communities have been able to apply for both Green Army and 20 Million
Trees projects at the same time.
It is great to see that 37 Green Army teams will work on 20 Million Trees projects.
This shows how local communities are working smarter to maximise
Australian Government investment to improve their local environment.
The 20 Million Trees initiative is an important part of the Australian
Government's National Landcare
Programme.
More information on the programme and the successful projects is available online at: www.nrm.gov.au/20-milliontrees
Landcare NSW would like to thank the many groups and individuals who support us to represent the interests of Landcare in
NSW. The support of our members was crucial in securing the coalition government’s commitment of $15M over four years for the Local Landcare
Coordinator Initiative.
Over the past 12 months, Landcare NSW has continued working to improve support and resources for all Landcare groups.
With the support of our members we can be the strong and united voice needed to continue to meet the expectations of our members and stakeholders.
Membership to Landcare NSW, is free;
Incorporated groups can join as a full member and unincorporated groups and individuals can become a Friend of
Landcare .
By joining Landcare NSW you are joining the voice for Landcare in NSW - you'll be part of the organisation that helps groups and community across the
State do what they do best - working locally to improve their patch.
The Advocate—January 2016
Membership benefits include:

Access to extra grant opportunities

No joining fees;

Quarterly updates on LNSW activities & new information;

Quick feedback loop on the important issues affecting Landcare at both State and Federal levels;
By adding your voice we can be more effective at every level.
CLICK HERE to access membership rules and application forms.

The Green Army is a hands-on, practical environmental action program that supports local environment and heritage conservation projects across Australia.
Submit a Green Army Project idea
Community organisations, Landcare groups, natural resource management organisations, environment groups,
Indigenous organisations, local councils and others can apply to host a Green
Army project. Projects must have a clear environment or heritage conservation focus and offer participants valuable practical experience, while supporting a safe work environment.
Each year the Australian Government will call for project ideas through project selection rounds. Applicants of successful project ideas become Green
Army Project Hosts.
What’s in it for me?
You can nominate projects that benefit the environment as well as your local community.
You’ll receive a team of up to nine participants and a qualified team supervisor, who will support your project for up to 30 hours each per week.
The team can carry out activities such as revegetation, habitat protection, weed control, cleaning up creeks and rivers and conserving national or Indigenous heritage places.
The Green Army Programme covers costs associated with the team including participant allowances; supervisor wages; safety clothing and basic equipment; participant training; local transport costs; participant insurances; items such as seeds, chemicals, fencing materials and equipment (with an average value of $10,000 per project).
How is the programme delivered?
The Australian Government has engaged five Service Providers to help deliver the programme on the ground. They are responsible for recruiting participants and team supervisors, managing work health and safety, providing training, paying allowances and overseeing project management.
The Green Army programme covers the costs associated with the team through Service
Providers. Call the hotline 1800 780730 or
GreenArmy@environment.gov.au
The Advocate—January 2016
Landcare NSW’s vision of a viable and resilient Landcare community was the impetus behind a project made by possible by philanthropy organisation the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation
(VFFF).
With funding from the VFFF, Landcare
NSW was able to chart a course towards our goal of a sustainable
Landcare movement.
The 18 month-project resulted in a renewal of cross-party support, a revitalised State Government Landcare program and a new sense of hope and optimism in the Landcare community.
During Community and Philanthropy
Week, December 2015, Landcare NSW and the VFFF celebrated our partnership with an event to thank all our partners, including our many colleagues in Government who have been strong supporters on our journey.
The Sustaining Landcare project continues in 2016 with a commitment from the NSW Government to work with us to determine how we can fund the infrastructure and support needed by the volunteer Landcare community into the future.
Watch the video to find out more about what’s been achieved and what the future holds, click here . The video was funded by the Prime Minister’s
Community Business Partnership.
In 2016 we are looking forward to strengthening the relationship between
Landcare and elected representatives through the NSW Parliamentary Friends of
Landcare (PFL).
The last meeting, held on 21 October 2015, attracted around 20 Members of
Parliament. LNSW Chair Rob Dulhunty invited Members to connect with their local Landcare groups and work to build support for Landcare into the future.
LNSW Councillor Megan Rowlatt, champion for youth involvement in Landcare, gave a presentation to illustrate the emergence of a new generation of Landcarers.
PFL Chair Katrina Hodgkinson noted
Landcare’s widespread connections that
“seep into every aspect of the community”.
The PFL is chaired by the Hon Katrina
Hodgkinson MLC, deputy chair is Hon Mick
Veitch MLC and Treasurer is Jeremy
Buckingham MLC.
Members represent both Houses of
Parliament and all political parties, including the Hon Niall Blair MLC who, as
Minister for Lands and Water, has responsibility for the Government’s
Landcare policy.
The PFL is a formal group established within the rules of the NSW Parliament. Its purpose is to build connections and provide a forum to enable MPs to support
Landcare. Click here for more info.
Robert Dulhunty Chair, Endorsed member
Steph Cameron New England North West Landcare
Bev
John
Keith
Bob
Debrincat
Hughson
Hyde
Jarman
Greater Sydney Landcare
Hunter Region Landcare
LachLandcare
North Coast Regional Landcare
Chris
David
Scott
Walker
Fran Corner
Daintry Gerrand
Stephen Harvey
Robyn Lamond
Stuart Mosely
Glenys Patulny
Bill Pigott
Manning Landcare
Endorsed individual member
Hunter Region Landcare
North Coast Regional Landcare
New England North West Landcare
Great Lakes District of Hunter Region
Western Landcare NSW
Murrumbidgee Landcare
South East Landcare
Jen Quealy
Megan Rowlatt
John
Tony
Kara
Dale
Ted
Ryan
Slade
Smith
Stringer
Wolfe
Endorsed individual member
Endorsed individual member
Central West NRM Working Group
LachLandcare
North Coast Regional Landcare
Murray Region Landcare
Murrumbidgee Landcare
The following representatives were endorsed as
Council members of
Landcare NSW at the November 2015
AGM Those in the shaded area were elected to the
Executive. For more info click here.